Gas-generator.



D. R. WAY.

GAS GENERATOR. APPLIGATION FILED APR.15, ;912.

l I L Wm WM COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CnWASHINOTONy D. c.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

D. R. WAY.

' GAS GENERATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.15, 1912.-

1,094,280, Patented Apr. 21, 19M

2 SHEETSSHBET 2. J"

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID R. WAY, OF FAIR-FIELD, IOWA.

GAS-GENERATOR,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID R. WAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairfield, in the county of Jefferson and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gas-Generators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to generators for the production of illuminating gas from properly prepared carbid, and the like, when placed in water, known as acetylene gas, and the object is to provide means for automatically discharging carbid from a hopper into a body of water.

The invent-ion consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of a generator embodying my invention, the front outer sides being broken away to show the inner working parts. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the feed mechanism and surrounding parts, being mainly a vertical section with some of the smaller inner parts shown in full. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-8 of Fig. 2, the figure being considered full where the line is drawn. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a receptacle or tank which is provided with a removable cover B and is preferably set in the ground C. Placed upon the bottom of the tank is a cylindrical open mouthed member D of smaller diameter than the tank and extending up a short distance from the bottom, the functions of which will be explained later on.

E represents a cylindrical vessel also of smaller diameter than the tank but larger than the member D, and having its lower end open and its upper end closed, which will be called the bell.

The tank is filled with water approximately to the top of the member D and the open end of the bell being inserted in the space between the member D and the sides of the tank, it will form a water seal. Gas being formed by the dro ping of carbid into the water, the bell wil act as a holder for the gas. As the gas is generated the bell will be lifted by its expansive power and as the gas is consumed the bell will be lowered by its own gravity within the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 15, 1912.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

Serial No. 690,933.

range of the dimensions of the difierent parts.

To the upper end of the member D are secured standards F and upon the upper ends of these standards are mounted a band Z, on which is supported a carbid holder H. Thisholder is made hopper shaped with an opening 6 in its lower end to let the carbid pass through to the water below and it will be called the hopper. It is also provided with a centrally located downwardly extending stem G having its upper end secured to the top of the hopper and an inverted cup-shaped deflector G on its lower end a little distance above the opening in the lower end of the hopper. The function of this deflector is to prevent the carbid from becoming wedged above the opening 0 and thus prevent it from becoming clogged in passing through the opening.

Passing vertically through the holder H, at one side of its center, is a pipe I which is preferably soldered to the top and bottom sides of the hopper through which it passes. On the upper end of this pipe is a short piece of a sheet iron tube J of a diameter large enough to telescope thereon, its upper end being closed so as to form an extended cap. Inside of the pipe I is a smaller pipe K adapted to slide up and down therein. The upper end of the pipe K is secured to the closed end of the tube J by a screw J, or in any other suit-able manner to oin them together.

A shaft represented by L and provided with one or more helical grooves in its body is inserted in the lower end of the pipe K, and its lower end, which is preferably of smaller diameter than its body, is passed through and adapted to rotate in a hole in a plug P, which is screwed into or otherwise fastened in the lower end of the pipe I. The upper end of the shaft L has a small conical recess or hollow center, and into this center the lower end of the pin M is received. This pin has near its lower end a circular flange or collar 0 upon which rests a coiled spring S, the lower portion of the spring encircling the upper end of the in. A rivet or rod N is passed through holes in the pipe K a little distance from its upper end and this pin rests upon the upper end of the spring While its outwardly extending ends are free to move up and down in slots in the upper end of the pipe I.

A cylinder 0 containing suit-able mechanism to rotate the shaft L is placed upon the body of the shaft and is secured to the inner side of the lower end of the pipe K. It is necessary, as will be later'explained, that the shaft L will rotate in one direction only. A. transverse section of the mechanism for obtaining this result is shown in Fig. 3 in which is embodied a pawl a and ratchet b. The ratchet b, is loosely mounted on the shaft and has lugs which enter the helical grooves of the shaft L. The shaft L is caused to rotate, by pressing down on the cap J, which forces pipe K containing the cylinder O downward. The pawl a, prevents the ratchet Z) from rotating as the pipe K is moved downward so that the shaft is caused to rotate, but when the cap J is released and allowed to return to its normal position, by the pressure of the spring S against the pin or rivet N, which is passed through the pipe K and extends into the slots in the upper end of the pipe I, the ratchet will be free to rotate and the pipe K and cylinder '0 will return to their normal position without causing the shaft L to rotate. The spring S pressing upon the collar 0 and it bearing on the upper end of the shaft L will hold the shoulder near its lower end in contact with the plug P. The object of this mechanism is to regulate the flow of the carbid through the opening in the bottom of the hopper II, and this is accomplished in the following manner: A head or hub Q, having a series of radially projecting arms 9, each of which carries a feed pan It, is secured to the lower end of the shaft L. These pans are so arranged that when the shaft L is rotated they will travel immediately under the opening in the bottom of the hopper through which the carbid passes. The feed pans are pivoted to said radial arms and are adapted to tilt at the point where the carbid is to be discharged. lVhile traveling under the opening in the hopper they are held in a substantially horizontal position by means of their rear ends being held down under a metal sheet T which is secured to the under side of the hopper H, in a substantially horizontal position, so as to surround the pipe I adjacent the plug P and immediately over the feed pans It. The feed pans being thus held in a horizontal position the carbid in passing through the opening will drop upon them and will pile up so as to block any further flow of the carbid through the opening until the loaded pan has moved away to the point of discharge and is replaced by the empty one following it. By this means the carbid cannot pass through the opening in the holder any faster than the movement of the feed pans which is regulated by the generation and consumption of the gas as will be hereafter explained. To provide for the discharge of the carbid a portion of the sheet T is cut away so that when the rear end 1* of the feed pans reaches this cut away portion it will be free to tilt up and let the main end of the pan having the carbid drop down and discharge it as shown in Fig. 1.

The means to cause the rotation of the shaft L which operates the feed pans are as follows: As the gas in the bell E is consumed the bell will settle so as to come in contact with the cap J which will press down the pipe K carrying the cylinder 0 which will cause the shaft L to rotate as already described until a feed pan loaded with carbid is brought to the point of discharge. As soon as the carbid is discharged gas will be generated which if in excess of the im mediate consumption will cause the bell to rise and release the cap J which will permit the spring S to lift the pipe K carrying the cylinder 0 when the mechanism will be ready for another operation. It will be seen that the operation is entirely automatic, that the carbid will flow through the opening in the hopper exactly as fast as required by the consumption of the gas. The gas is conducted to the place where it is to be consumed by an open ended pipe U which is passed down through the bottom of the tank and up through the ground outside of the tank, where the gas is passed through a filter V. It is then conducted to the pipe U which leads to the place where the gas is to be used. The pipe U after its connection to the filter is extended up to the top of the ground where it is closed by a locked vent valve W. In case it should be necessary to remove the gas from the generator the locked vent valve is opened and the gas is permitted to escape through this outlet. Otherwise the locked vent valve will prevent its escape and it cannot be opened (unless by breaking it) by any one not having the key for the lock. In case the lead pipe U should be broken or the vent valve IV be opened and the consumption or escape of the gas should be in excess of its generation, in that event the bell E would settle to its lowest position and remain there. The bell not rising the mechanism operating the feed of the carbid would be stopped and no more carbid would be supplied and the generator, in popular parlance, would become dead. Consequently there would be no danger of filling the building full of gas should the lead pipe be broken, or of wasting the carbid should the vent valve be opened. This is an important feature from the stand-point of economy as well as safety.

In a generatoixhaving a capacity of 24:00 candle power, or supply sufficient gas for 100 lights of 24 candle power, the holder It may be made large enough to contain 100 pounds of carbid. Such a generator, fur nishing gas for a medium sized dwelling house, will not have to be refilled oftener than once in three or four months. The carbid being held in reserve for this length of time, it is important that effective means be used to prevent its deterioration by dampness. To meet this requirement the hopper H is made absolutely tight with the exception of an opening in the top to admit the carbid (not shown in the drawing), and the opening 6 at the bottom already referred to. The opening in the top is closed by a tight fitting cover it preferably having a threaded connection. The lower opening is also closed against moisture from the water in the generator by means of a depending frusto-oonical body or spout X. The sheet T forms the upper side of this spout, the ver tical sides of the spout being securely fitted to it and their lower edges terminating in an inverted cone having a small circular opening in its lower end. On one of the inner sides of the conical end of this spout a bracket Y is attached and a weighted lever Y is pivoted near its center to the upper end of this bracket. A conical plug or sheet of metal Z is connected at its apex to a rod or wire t which in turn is connected to the small end of the lever. The arrangement is such that the conical plug will be drawn up into the circular opening of the spout and held there by the weighted end of the lever so as to completely close the opening.

lVhen the carbid is discharged by one of the feed plates its weight will cause the plug Z to move downward sufliciently to allow the carbid to pass through the opening as shown in Fig. 1. As soon as the carbid has passed out the weighted end of the lever will again draw the plug up into the opening and effectually close it. This closing device is extremely simple and cannot be clogged by the carbid.

The section of the sheet T which is cut away to permit the tilting up of the rear end of the feed pans R is closed by a sheet metal cap (Z which is securely soldered to the edges surrounding said cut away section. The pipe I which is also passed down through the sheet T is securely soldered thereto, thus making the spout X absolutely tight when the plug Z is in place, and effectually pre venting any moisture arising from the water in the tank, or from any other cause, from getting into the carbid hopper through the discharge opening in its lower end.

The carbid in passing over the conical plug Z will be scattered more evenly over the bottom of the tank and will be better distributed in the water which will result in a more uniform generation of the than if it were dropped. direct from the hopper in a heap. The carbid however, will be dropped within the open end of the member D, the lower end of which is fiared to fill the bottom of the tank, thus permitting the carbid to be well scattered over the bottom of the tank. lower end of the member D will act as a de fiector to conduct the generated gas into the bell and to prevent it from getting between the bell and the tank where it would pass into the upper end of thetank and escape.

The discharge opening in the lower end of carbid hoppers of this character has heretofore been made by cutting off a small portion of the apex of the cone, thus forming a circular opening directly in the center of the cone. This construction is objection able and to overcome its defects, I form an opening 0 at one side of the apex, as shown in Fig. 4, which is an enlarged side view of the lower end of the hopper on the side where the opening is formed. The opening 6 is on the side of the hopper next to the point where the carbid is discharged from the feed pans which makes an easier delivery of the carbid on to the feed pans, there being no possibility of any delivery toward the rear onto a tilted pan, or of the carbid wedging against the edge of the opening.

An enlarged perspective of one of the feed pans is shown by Fig. 6. It will be seen that the pan is provided with an upturned wing or shield 7 which has the rear end 7* heretofore referred to. Also, two downturned lugs g by means of which the pans are pivoted on the radial arms '7. The wing f helps to keep the carbid on the pan from spilling off and also forms a better support for the rear end 1* which is a part of the wing. When mounted on the radial arms of the hub Q the plates overlap and underlap. The rear end of each pan overlaps the front end of the succeeding pan or, vice versa, the front end of each pan underlaps the rear end of each pan in front of it. This arrangement prevents the carbid from spilling out between the pans and does not interfere with the tilting necessary to discharge the carbid.

It is important that the pans shall be prevented from running backward and to guard against this contingency a small cleat or rib 7) is secured to the under side of the sheet T in the path of the movement of the upturned edges of the pans so as to form shoulders against which the rear ends 1 will catch to prevent backward movement, as shown by Fig. 5 which is an outside view of one of the pans and a section of the sheet T immediately above it. The hub Q which carries the feed pans is preferably secured to the lower end of the shaft L by a set screw or adjustable lock nuts 0.

The hopper is provided with downwardly projecting standards at having a ring or band a which forms a guard to protect the lower end of the spout X with its plug Z and also for the hopper to stand upon when removed from the tank. To remove At the same time, the flared the rotating mechanism the hub Q, has to be taken off the lower end of the shaft L when by taking hold of the cap J the pipe K with the shaft L and all their attachments may be readily lifted out of the pipe I. The shaft L kept from dropping out by means of a small key or collar 8 coming in contact with the upper edge of the cylinder 0. By removing the pin or rivet N the spring S, pin M and shaft L may all be removed from the pipe K, thus affording easy access for repairs should any be needed.

It is thought that this description will enable those skilled in the art to construct and use a gas generator according to the features of my invention, and that a number of changes may be made in the details described without departing from the spirit of my invention.

hat I claim is:

1. In a gas generator, the combination with a bell adapted to be actuated by the volume of gas, of a shaft having helical grooves therein, feed pans operated by the shaft, and means in engagement with the grooves of the shaft adapted to be actuated by the bell for causing the pans to be operated.

2. In a gas generator, the combination with bell adapted to be actuated by the volume of gas, of a shaft, feed pans operated by the shaft, and reciprocating'means in engagement with the shaft and traveling lengthwise of the shaft adapted to be actuated by the bell for causing the shaft to be operated and the pans moved.

3. In a gas generator, the combination with a bell adapted to be actuated by the volume of gas, of a shaft having helical grooves, a cylinder in engagement with the grooves of the shaft, feed pans operated by the shaft, and means connected to the cylinder adapted to be actuated upon the movement of the bell for causing the shaft to be operated and the pans moved.

4.. In a gas generator, the combination with a bell adapted to be actuated by the volume of gas, of a shaft carrying feeding means, said shaft provided with helical grooves, means having engagement with the grooves of said shaft, and means engaging said means for holding said means against rotation for causing the rotation of the shaft upon the actuation of said firstnained means by the bell.

in a gas generator, the combination with a bell adapted to be actuated by the volume of gas, of a shaft carrying feeding means, said shaft provided with helical grooves, means having engagement with the grooves of said shaft, and means engaging said means for holding said means against rotation in one direction for causing the rotation of the shaft upon the actuation of the first-named means by the bell.

(3. In a gas generator of the kind described, a receptacle, a bell within the receptacle water sealed at its lower end and adapted to move up and down according to the volume of the gas therein, a carbid hopper having adischarge opening at its central lower end, a vertically disposed pipe extended through the hopper at one side of the center, a shaft having a helical groove in its body and rotatable in said pipe, a hub having horizontally disposed arms secured to the lower end of the shaft, feed pans mount-- ed thereon, a cylinder mounted upon the body of the shaft adapted to coact with said helical groove on the shaft and means whereby the downward movement 'of the bell will operate the cylinder and cause the shaft to rotate.

T. In a gas generator of the kind described, a receptacle, a bell within the receptacle water sealed at its lower end and adapted to move up and down according to the volume of the gas therein, a carbid hopper having a discharge opening at its central lower end, a vertically disposed pipe extended through the hopper at one side of the center, a smaller pipe placed inside said other pipe and adapted to be moved up and down therein, a shaft having a helical groove in its body and rotatable in said smaller pipe, horizontally disposed feed pans suitably secured to the lower end of the shaft, a cylinder secured to the inside of the smaller pipe, and adapted to coact with the groove in the body of the shaft and means whereby the downward movement of the bell will press down the inner pipe carrying the cylinder and cause the shaft carrying the feed pans to rotate.

8. In a gas generator of the kind described, a receptacle a bell within the receptacle water sealed at its lower end and adapted to move up and down according to the volume of the gas therein, a carbid hopper having a discharge opening at its central lower end, a vertically disposed pipe extended through the hopper atone side of the center, a smaller pipe placed inside said other pipe and adapted to be moved up and down therein, a shaft having a helical groove in its body and rotatable in said smaller pipe, horizontally disposed feed pans suitably secured to the lower end of the shaft, a cylinder secured to the inside of the smaller pipe, and adapted to coact with the groove in the body of the shaft, a cap placed on the upper end of the inner pipe and adapted to contact with the bell in its downward movement and press down the inner pipe carrying the cylinder and cause the shaft with the feed pans to rotate.

9. In a gas generator of the kind described, a receptacle, a bell within the receptacle water sealed at its lower end and adapted to move up and down according to the volume of the gas therein, a earbid hopper having a discharge opening at 1ts central lower end, a vertically disposed pipe extended through the hopper at one side of the center, a smaller pipe placed inside said other pipe and adapted'to be moved up and down therein, a shaft having a helical groove in its body and rotatable in said smaller pipe, horizontally disposed feed pans suitably secured to the lower end of the shaft, a cylinder secured to the inside of the smaller pipe, and adapted to coact with the groove in the body of the shaft, a pin having a collar, said pin set on the upper end of the shaft, a coil spring placed on the pin and bearing on the collar, :1 pin or rivet passed crosswise through the upper end of the inner pipe and ends extended into longitudinal slots in the outer pipe, a cap secured to the upper end of the inner pipe and adapted to contact with the bell in its downward movement whereby the spring will be compressed and the inner pipe pushed down so the cylinder will cause the shaft with the feed pans to rotate and when the bell moves up the spring will raise the inner pipe with cylinder for another operation.

F airfield, Iowa, April 12, 1912.

DAVID R. WAY,

lVitnesses:

C. R. SPENCER, R. B. SANDLEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

